Bio-capture: harnessing engineered “trap & degrade” biofilms for microplastic removal from drinking water – an integrated science & society approach
Principal investigator: Ronan McCarthy (University of Southampton)
Co-Leads:
Lyuboslava Harkova (University of Southampton), Prof Cindy Smith (University of Glasgow)
and Prof Jude Robinson (University of Glasgow)
Project Summary
The proposal outlines an innovative strategy to tackle the growing threat of microplastics (tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size) in drinking water by combining biofilm absorptive properties with protein engineering to create microplastic degrading biofilms. Microplastics have been detected in multiple human tissues and organs and pose serious health risks, with drinking water identified as a major exposure route.
Alignment with Global Goals
Tackling this issue aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water quality. To achieve this goal requires transformative solutions, and this project positions engineered, pathogen-free biofilms as a disruptive solution to microplastic drinking water contamination. The project will demonstrate that engineered biofilms can effectively capture and degrade microplastics in controlled drinking water systems, with large-scale evaluation in reactor settings. Safety and monitoring of the engineered organisms are built into the design.
Integration of Social Science
Critically this proposal integrates engineering biology with social science, by investigating societal acceptance and risk perception around drinking water, engineered organisms and biofilms.
Impact & Outcomes
The findings that emerge from this part of the project will inform plans to scale the use of engineered biofilms to treat domestic and/ or commercial water, and to develop messages to counter any fears and/or promote opportunities to increase public acceptance, enabling effective stakeholder engagement and responsible communication. The team’s interdisciplinary expertise, infrastructure, and mitigation strategies maximize the project’s chances of success.
